Shoulder strap holder



June 30, 1953 D. BLAIR 2,643,380

SHOULDER STRAP HOLDER Filed Sept. 25, 1949 V l II'VVENTOR; 3 Dame! 4 51am "wwaw/rm Patented June 30, 1953 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE SHOULDER STRAP HOLDER David Blair, Chicago, Ill.

Application September 23, 1949, Serial No. 117,369

1 Claim. 1

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in a shoulder strap holder.

One of the objects of my invention is the pro vision of a shoulder strap holder which is adapted to hold the shoulder straps of ladies garments together, permitting sliding of the straps in acoordance with the movements of the wearer, but eliminating continual annoyance to the wearer, as when the shoulder straps keep slipping from position.

Another object of my invention is the provision of a shoulder strap holder for use as an accessory with ladies hand bags of the type suspended from the shoulder of the wearer, the said holder preventing slippage of the supporting strap while in engagement with the shoulder.

A further object of my invention is the provision of an article of the character set forth which is simple in construction, durable and efficient in service, comfortable while worn, and inexpensive to manufacture.

Other and further objects and advantages of my invention will become apparent from the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a shoulder strap holder in accordance with my invention and showing the same in positions of use on the shoulders of a wearer.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the shoulder strap of my invention.

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view on an enlarged scale taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

The shoulder strap holder according to my invention comprises a symmetrical channel-like member 5 shaped in cross-section, substantially as shown in Fig. 3, and having a padding 8 of foam rubber or similar material bonded to the under side thereof. The member 5 is formed of suitable flexible plastic material which is readily deformable, but which has sufiicient inherent rigidity to retain its formed shape. Preferably, the member 5 is formed, as by extrusion, in a continuous length and includes a bottom wall l, arcuate side walls 8, 8, and inwardly directed overhanging top walls 9, 9 having beaded longitudinal edges H, H, the said edges being slightly spaced, substantially along a median longitudinal line. The top walls 9, 9 are in a flat plane, as shown, and the beaded edges H, H blend in therewith so as to provide a smooth contour on the upper surface of the member 5, thereby eliminating the presence of any angular lines which would be otherwise noticeable through the outer garment while on the wearer and might be 2 objectionable from the standpoint of appearance.

The padding 6 which is suitably bonded to the under side of the member 5 is shaped in crosssection, substantially as shown in Fig. 3 with the medial portion l2 thereof having a thickness slightly less than the portions on either side thereof, thereby forming, in effect, two spaced longitudinal ribs l3, G3. The marginal edges i4, I4 of the padding 6 may be bevelled so as to provide a continuous smooth contour with the side walls 8, 8 of the member 5.

The shoulder strap holder of my invention is sufficiently soft and flexible so as to conform itself to the shoulder contour of the wearer. When used with undergarments, the shoulder strap holder is intended to be positioned on the shoulder of the wearer, with the foam rubber padding 6 in intimate contact with the skin. However, prior to such positioning, while the holder is in straight condition, the top overhanging walls 9, 9 are temporarily distorted, as by engaging the edge H as with a finger nail, so as to permit placing of the shoulder straps it of the under garments of the wearer on the bottom wall I. When the top walls 9, S are released, they return to their normal positions, in overhanging relationship to the bottom wall "5, thereby, substantially enclosing the portions of the shoulder straps ID which are in contact with the holder. While the top walls 9, 9 may be easily deformed when the holder is in substantially straight position, the same cannot be so easily done when the said holder is bent in arcuate form, as when it is positioned on the shoulder of a wearer. When the holder is in curved position, the overhanging top walls 9, 9 are caused to lie closely against the bottom wall I, because the radius of curvature of the top walls 9, 9 is greater than that of the bottom wall I, thereby causing the top walls 9, 9, in effect, to stretch over the bottom wall 1. The shoulder straps it thereby, are held securely within the holder and cannot be easily displaced therefrom so long as the holder is positioned on the shoulder of the wearer.

When the holder is used with a ladies hand bag, the holder is placed on the shoulder over the outer garment of the wearer with the padding 6 in engagement with the fabric of the said garment. In either condition of use, the holder remains substantially in fixed position, but the straps confined within the holder, because of the relatively smooth slippery surface of the plastic material, may move relative thereto permitting the undergarments or the hand bag continually to adjust themselves according to the movements of the wearer.

The padding 6 serves the purpose of cushioning the holder on the shoulder of the wearer and additionally, that of providing a friction surface which minimizes slippage of the holder while on the shoulder. Thus, the straps II) when adjusted remain in such adjusted position against any inadvertent slippage.

I claim:

A shoulder strap holder comprising an elongated member formed of a flexible plastic material which is readily deformable, but which has suflicient inherent rigidity to retain its formed shape, said elongated member comprising a bottom wall and inwardly directed overhanging top Walls extending the length of the bottom wall, said top walls having longitudinal edges terminating in close proximity to each other to provide a longitudinal opening through which a shoulder strap may be inserted, the longitudinal edges of the top walls terminating downwardly to form longitudinal lips below the plane of the top walls,

said base having a smooth upper surface adapted to be engaged by a shoulder strap, said top walls being displaceable for receiving and releasably holding said shoulder strap on the upper surface with the lips frictionally engaging the upper portion of the strap, and a supporting cushioning pad of foam rubber on the underside of said base adapted to engage the shoulder of a wearer so as to minimize slippage thereon.

DAVID BLAIR.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Elliott Oct. 25, 1949 

